Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH Fair Market Rent (FY2026)
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area · MA, NH · 6 counties · pop. 3,579,926 (2023)
The FY2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH is $2,941/month. Across bedroom sizes the HUD FMR runs from $2,359 (studio) to $3,894 (4-bedroom). That 2-bedroom figure is $1,966 above the US national median FMR of $975 — far above the national median FMR — and ranks #5 of 75 among the largest metros (1 = most expensive). FMR is the federal voucher rent standard, not the market median.
Source: HUD USER, FY2026 Fair Market Rents (40th percentile, revised final). Data as of June 2026.
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH FMR by bedroom size
| Unit size | Monthly FMR | ≈ Weekly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / efficiency | $2,359 | $545 | $28,308 |
| 1-bedroom | $2,476 | $572 | $29,712 |
| 2-bedroom | $2,941 | $679 | $35,292 |
| 3-bedroom | $3,526 | $814 | $42,312 |
| 4-bedroom | $3,894 | $899 | $46,728 |
Source: HUD USER, FY2026 Fair Market Rents (40th percentile, revised final). Data as of June 2026.
Weekly and annual figures are simple conversions of the monthly FMR (÷4.33 and ×12). The monthly FMR is HUD's published value. Verify on huduser.gov.
What this FMR means
Fair Market Rent is HUD's estimate of the 40th-percentile gross rent — contract rent plus tenant-paid utilities — for a modest, non-luxury unit in Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH. It is recalculated each fiscal year from American Community Survey rent data and a current-year inflation factor. Public housing agencies use the FMR to set Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standards, typically 90–110% of the FMR. A higher FMR means the program will cover a higher rent in this area; it does not mean landlords charge exactly this much.
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH vs its state and the US
| Benchmark | 2-bedroom FMR |
|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH | $2,941 |
| Massachusetts state median | $2,067 |
| US national median | $975 |
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH sits in Massachusetts, where the median area's 2-bedroom FMR is $2,067 and areas range from $1,527 to $3,138.
Metro areas with a similar FMR
The five areas closest to Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH on the 2-bedroom FMR scale:
| Metro area | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH (this area) | $2,359 | $2,476 | $2,941 | $3,526 | $3,894 |
| Oakland-Fremont, CA | $2,142 | $2,385 | $2,912 | $3,724 | $4,413 |
| New York, NY | $2,529 | $2,655 | $2,910 | $3,644 | $3,959 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA | $2,079 | $2,328 | $2,903 | $3,681 | $4,098 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $2,288 | $2,459 | $3,001 | $3,998 | $4,845 |
| Nassau-Suffolk, NY | $1,992 | $2,379 | $2,747 | $3,563 | $3,768 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the FY2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH?
The FY2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area is $2,941 per month. FMR is the 40th-percentile gross rent (including utilities) HUD uses to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards — it is not the local market median. Verify the current figure at huduser.gov.
What are the FMRs for other bedroom sizes in Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH?
In FY2026 the FMRs are $2,359 (studio), $2,476 (1-bedroom), $2,941 (2-bedroom), $3,526 (3-bedroom) and $3,894 (4-bedroom) per month. Larger units have higher FMRs because they assume more bedrooms and occupants.
Is rent in Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH high compared with the rest of the US?
Its 2-bedroom FMR of $2,941 is $1,966 above the national median FMR of $975 (+202%) — far above the national median FMR. Among the 75 largest metros it ranks #5 of 75 by 2-bedroom FMR (1 = most expensive).
Does the FMR mean my voucher will cover that much rent?
Not exactly. The local public housing agency (PHA) sets a "payment standard" usually between 90% and 110% of the FMR, and your subsidy is based on that standard minus roughly 30% of your adjusted income. The FMR is the benchmark, not a guaranteed amount — check with the PHA that serves Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH.
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Source & accuracy
FY2026 Fair Market Rents, U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development — HUD USER (public domain). FMR is the federal voucher rent standard, not the market median. Figures are a June 2026 snapshot of HUD's revised final FY2026 file; verify the current value on huduser.gov before relying on it.
Last updated: 2026-06-20